Post Traumatic Stress Disorder - I have ptsd because of being gang raped in collage I am 46 now and?

... still have bad startle out burst. if someone is in my space and i dont see the i scream and a cuse like a salior,It also hurts my heart, I have tried Xanax and all the benz but i get memory loss or blackouts anyone else have this problem

Responses (5)

Awfully sorry to read what you had to undergo many years ago and suffer from PTSD, all that I could suggest is try meditation it would be most helpful or yoga, surely you could seek help from a guru or some community center where they would train you to meditate for a sometimes during the day.

Chris65, my heart goes out to you my dear. I could not wish this on my worst enemy. I wonder what treatment other medical you have had.? Have you been thru therapy for this trauma in your life? If so I am happy, but f not, I think it may help you greatly. I went thru a trauma as a very young child, & had no one to help me thru it ,& have learned on my own to just handle it. It's been a struggle, but have had the best of friends in my life to do talk therapy with, Just getting it out ,& useing those tears as often as you need to me is a good therapy. A licensed therapist is very well equipped to handle these situations, & I hope you have checked out this avenue too. I wish you the best... Mary

Hello Chris. I went through the same thing. I got some counseling through the rape crisis center phone lIne. Then moved onto therapy. Please remember that it was not your fault. They are very damaged people. You are a fine person who had a bad event. It happened a long time ago. It is time to stop rehearsing the fear of that time.

Meditation is an excellent solution. So is using a counseling session and crying your anger out. Once you let this go your life will open up. Fight for not letting one point in time define you. It is time to shine again.

I do know something of how it feels to be victimized. Please dont be a victim anymore. You have strength. You are reaching out. You will be fine. I believe in your ability to do this. Karen

I agree with Endless Pred. You have to stop being a victim, and be a survivor!! You should try counseling, and there is plenty of free counseling for women who have been raped. Group therapy should help you a lot, also. Try calling your United Way, or crisis help center, they should steer you in the right direction. Best of luck to you. It's time to put that chapter away and live again!!

Yes I have been through therapy and help others I was just wondering how to not get so startled when someone I know or dont it can be the dog and scream out these slur of curse words.Always the same ones in the same order and I only normally slip saying damn not the other five that never seem to say.I due know I am a surviour and in my case it was a bunch of collage age drunks that were trying to prove something. I dont want to dwell on that just wondered if other ptsd have the startle effect

AN

Anonymous2 May 2012

It is a learned response, and you have to unlearn it. (Please do not take offense, I am in no way blaming you at all!!) There are therapies... I believe the one is called EMSA, but don't quote me. They used to have you look up and blink your eyes a lot, but they have come a long way from there. It is a very specific therapy to stop a response such as the one that you have. I believe that it only takes a few sessions, (my best friend went through it when it was first discovered for fear of heights! Today she works on the 27th floor of a huge bldg. In the past she would have never even entered the bldg, as she was that fearful. It only took four sessions I believe, and this behavior of hers was with her from age 10 to age 45 when she started therapy!!) It is VERY effective. I will try and find out the name of it for you if you are interested.

AN

Anonymous2 May 2012

It is called EMDR therapy. You can google someone near you who is EMDR trained. It is a VERY EFFECTIVE therapy for many things. Best of luck to you Mary!!

First off let me say how sorry I am to hear this. I know exactly what you are going through. About 5 years ago while on a date he and 3 other buddies of his held me in a cabin in the woods for 2 day. Took turns raping me. I birthed a daughter from this experience. As time went on it became easier for me to handle, but its still hard. I too was diagnosed with PTSD. My first suggestion to you would be counseling. That's something that helped me tremendously. Talk. Talk to who ever you need to as much as you need to until you feel you can handle it on your own. I can't say this will make it any better. Because the fact is that it happened and neither you or I can take that away. If I could somehow go back and change that situation for you, then there is no question that I would. But I can't. Spending every moment dwelling on it wont help either. I know because I done this for quite some time.

I can't say that getting counseling will help with being jumpy around new people. It helped me a lot, but I still get very nervous if someone approaches me quickly. And I still have the occasional nightmare and flashback. I hope this helps a little. I hope you are doing well. If you need anyone to talk to, I'm always here. Just private msg me anytime. Sometimes its good to talk to someone who knows what you are going through. May God bless you!! Sending my love.